New York State Police Lt. John Durling holds up a photograph of John W. Suddard, the Fort Edward man accused of stealing an estimated $1 million worth of goods from approximately 100 homes over several years. (ERICA MILLER/emiller@saratogian.com)

HUDSON FALLS -- Several Saratoga Springs burglaries are believed to be tied to a multi-year, interstate string of thefts in which an estimated $1 million worth of goods was stolen from 100 homes.

Police on Wednesday showed off some of the loot -- jewelry, silver, coins -- that John W. Suddard II, 39, of Fort Edward allegedly took during a spree dating back to September 2007, shortly after he completed a 10-year prison term for a prior burglary offense.

Suddard, who is in Albany County Jail without bail, was charged Dec. 21 while trying to pawn items in Albany that he allegedly stole in Hudson Falls the day before.

"He's looking at probably spending the rest of his life in prison," said Lt. John Durling of the New York State Police Special Investigations Unit in Latham.

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Durling, Hudson Falls police and Washington County Sheriff Jeff Murphy displayed 31 duffel bags containing 30,000 items discovered in sheds at the Granville home of Suddard's brother-in-law, David Parson, who might be facing charges as well. The items are believed to be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Items from one Hudson Falls home are valued at $140,000 alone, and there's no telling how much Suddard sold.

Antique jewelry found in the stash had a hand-written note attached: "These were my father's. Do not sell until you have them appraised. Mom."

"We're already working with them (other police agencies) on this," Catone said. "We've compiled a list of things from some of our burglaries that are still open."

Catone said he's learned that Suddard might cooperate with officials in identifying other homes he stole from.

"He did so many, I don't know how he keeps track," Catone said.

Gillis said some burglaries might have been committed in Vermont.

"He (Suddard) was moving between here and North Carolina and other states as well," Gillis said. "We have reached out to other states."

Gillis said a break in the case came when South Glens Falls Police Sgt. Todd Moulthrop spotted Suddard's vehicle off Martindale Avenue in Hudson Falls shortly before Christmas. On Dec. 20, a nearby home on Spruce Street was broken into.

State police put Suddard under surveillance and he was charged the next day after trying to pawn items at Olde Saratoga Coin on Central Avenue in Colonie.

Hudson Falls Police Chief Randy Diamond said it's believed Suddard would routinely drive through neighborhoods, waiting for people to leave their house.

"The majority of people were elderly," he said.

Most of the burglaries took place in cold-weather months, beginning after Halloween, Diamond said. There were one or two cases in both Hudson Falls and Glens Falls when someone was home and spooked Suddard into leaving.

It's not believed he committed armed burglaries, although a handgun was found with one stash of items.

Suddard worked seasonally doing paint jobs in the summer. It's unknown if he broke into any of the homes in which he worked.

People may claim stolen items Jan. 9

HUDSON FALLS -- Police will display the thousands of items allegedly stolen during a recent burglary spree from 6 to 10 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 9, at Hudson Falls High School.

The event is only for people who believe they lost items allegedly stolen by John W. Suddard of Fort Edward from September 2007 through last month.

People whose last names begin with letters A through M may attend from 6 to 8 p.m. People whose last names begin with letters N through Z may attend from 8 to 10 p.m.

If a person has already been paid for stolen items by their insurance company, they must reimburse the company before getting the stolen item back. People may ask police to hold the item until this can be worked out.